'Tis the season folks! And no matter what you're celebrating at this time of year, the long darks nights, and short days do beg to tinseled up with some festivities, plenty of parties with friends and family to remind us how cozy winter can be. We love, loooove, gathering with friends and neighbors. Our goal is always to host the party we want to go to ourselves. And while that in no way makes us party experts, we still thought we'd share with you a few of our party plans for this year, in case you're looking for ideas and excuses for getting a few of your nearest and dearest together. Just, you know, don't forget to invite us too! ;)

First up, a cookie party! Because cookies are even MORE FUN when you have drinks! and people to help with rolling and sprinkling! And, Emily is so good at making cookies, hers have wound up in cookbooks. Here's the sum total of your game plan: Clear off as much counter space as you can in your kitchen, make the dough for a couple types of cookie ahead of time - so it's ready for rolling and baking right away - and gather up the ingredients to make some other kinds of dough with guests, then get ready for a flour-y and fun afternoon. The great thing about cookie baking parties is they are the most fun when they are utterly casual and slightly chaotic. At least, we tell ourselves that because we're pretty much always (more than) slightly chaotic.

And here's what to serve!

Here are some of our favorite cookie-making drinks:

Cedar Hot Toddy (makes 1)

1 1/2 oz. Vikre Boreal Cedar Gin

3/4 oz. lemon juice

3/4 oz. maple syrup

2-3 dashes Angostura bitters

hot water

Stir together the gin, lemon juice, maple syrup, and bitters in a sturdy mug until well combined, then top with hot water.

Aquavit Milk Punch (makes 1)

2 oz. Vikre Øvrevann Aquavit

2 oz. heavy cream or half-and-half

a couple drops vanilla extract

1/2 oz. simple syrup

nutmeg

Shake all the ingredients with ice until very chilled, then strain into a glass and sprinkle with a little grated nutmeg. It's like egg nog, but no messing around with raw eggs!